Pages

Saturday, September 25, 2010

If you haven't noticed already, Russia is lately expanding into a huge mecca of hardcore music and values. I don't how this change is coming about so fast, but be sure that Russian kids are putting their country on the international map of hardcore! I know for a fact that our zine here gets most of its hits from Russia, second only to US and Canada! This exceptional, huge country which stands out in so many other aspects, will now also stand out in hardcore! Straight Edge kids already know that xFlawless Victoryx is one of the best current sXe bands with their own sound, but my favorites are Good 2 Go, this awesome energetic hardcore band that I am listening to on full volume when I want to get naturally high!

Seryoga Posi is the name the dude who got in touch and send me this demo, which the band circulates for free through their myspace. He and his friends play a form of heavy but also positive hardcore, like a combination of Madball with Good Clean Fun. Awesome! Their sound is raw, with a very good production with a phat guitar sound and many cool, small solos in the background. They sing in Russian which sounds very good and they have many breakdowns and tempo exchanges to keep things interesting.

As this is pretty fat sounding and raw like we said (music to lift weights with one hand and eat [vegan] burgers with the other), it takes a few listens to get used to it as well as the unknown language. But then you can appreciate this groovy, full of attitude hardcore band which gets more well known with every day that passes.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The show's poster speaks for itself. This ain't no happy-core! But I bet that all sorts of hardcore fans will make their way to Katarameno Syndromo this Friday to enjoy this week's mostly talked about event.You know the deal, place and time; and if you don't, well then check www.myspace.com/kataramenosyndromo

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

France... home of baguettes, violent dancing and beatdown mosh-core! It seems like the dudes in Danforth are really ripping shit up with their newest release of frantic, downtempo beatdown hardcore. Mixing in a generous dose of hip hop, this Paris crew is ready to take up space with the biggest and meanest of motherfuckers in the beatdown genre anywhere. Japan, Germany, your moshing crown is threatened, so you better do something!

This is some serious 3D action going on and as the band itself admits, it took a year in the making. The song is from Danforth's No Fear To BleedEP.

Friday, September 17, 2010

I'd say that EDGE is the most talked-about film of recent times as far as hardcore is concerned, I think probably since American Hardcore. In this case, the focus is not hardcore during the 80s in America, but the analysis of the straight edge hardcore philospohy and morals. IT goes through all basics styles and genres (in a historic kind of way) and interviews many prominent sXe figures of today and yesterday. My favorite part? Ray Cappo (Youth of Today, Shelter etc), of course!

I just think it's really great to have movie screenings like that, about hardcore music and culture here in Greece. It is just something we need, the sort of activity that is not necessarily 100% music-related and helps the scene grow by bringing people together and informing them about the stuff they listen to, so it's all good. There is so much that can be done from us by us and it is great to see people actually taking the innitiative. So let's go!

This really made my Friday! And dude, you're not even straight edge :P

Saturday, September 11, 2010

To find hardcore that blows me away 100% is not that easy, but stumbling upon Shere Khan's shit from 2008 did this exaclty! They have the fucking realness factor going on, so much that you just can't resist to if you like heavy music at all. It overflows with sheer energy and it's so in your face that it gets almost scary. That is exaclty the thing hardcore is missing today, the sense that it is dangerous, like the feeling you get around some people in real life, how you get the sense of uncomfort being next to them? Well I get this sense when I listen to Shere Khan on top volume right here at home!

Don't get me wrong, these guys are not like a totally negative band, but they're aint happycore either. I guess we could say that they deliver a straightforward message and attitide through an extremely intense medium. Yep--this is old school hardcore with a hateful but at least honest message: Get Fucked (the title of their EP!).

As for the music, this is not just another 'by the numbers' old school copycat. It's perfectly crafted with a classic sXe sound that borrows some youth crew characteristics (on the vox and the few, well placed guitar leads) but is also not 100% metal-free either. All in all, a good combination of all the meterial that makes hardcore just so great when it is well played.

I can't believe I was anaware of this band for so long... From what I see they've been inactive since 2008 and their members are doing other things in some pretty well known bands. Oh shit! Get sucka free!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

One thing that does not come up frequently in TYS is the fact that I love progressive metal... especially progressive, technical metal with post/hardcore influences and excellent musicianship! So Dead At The Scene is exactly the type of band I am talking about--progressing and transgressing, creating their own style of metal that sounds totally fresh and inspiring!

First of all, I guess I should say that this isn't exactly 'metal' per se; it combines a ton of different musical influences which won't allow even the most narrow-minded critic to pigeonhole this band in to any specific genre (well...). It would suffice to say that it is really heavy, really tight, with constant changes without becoming chaotic or 'jazzy'! I mean, it is progressive for sure, but luckily it is also catchy and groovy, and goes down well from start to finish. In other words, you won't sit there wondering what the fuck? or strive to make sense by playing the record over and over until you get it. Au contraire, you will be able to just enjoy it from the first play. Then, of course, you will end up giving it repeated listens like me, because it will grow on you like a motherfucker!

Another good thing about Sharktopus (what a title) is that it contains various layers of heaviness. It doesn't just go back and forth between heavy/calm like so many so called progressive bands out there; it actually has parts where the band slaps you across the face really heavy but also melodic parts, blending the brutality with an almost chilled, hypnotic at times atmosphere. And all that without sampling and programming or keyboard additions of any sort! So the record ploughs on through with all its heavy riffs and double bass drumming and exchanging complex rhythms, but there is an immense sense of beauty about it, too. I can't begin to understand how these guys tie up their songs with so much brutality and at the same time thoughtfulness and melody. Good job!

DATS: trippy deathcore for a new age

It's the combination of those trippy, calm parts with the sheer technical intensity that makes this Scottish band stand out so much. All the players know their shit for sure and do their progressive thang but without competing each other, while the vocals top it all off with a wide range of different styles. Everything is so in phase and perfectly correlated that creates a nice sense of balance. Just perfect, melodic, modern progressive metal. There is a part on the song Echoes on 02.56 when the solo kicks in, that is just fucking magic and explains exactly what I mean.

Most of all I like this band because they can pull off all this technical stuff and at the same time keep it metal and down to earth. But you better get your hands on this gem and check it out for yourself asap! This is music for thought...

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Another perfect line-up, another perfect poster, another perfect DIY occasion. I was pretty sure I had a good feeling about the shows coming back on full effect this fall...

The names of the bands speak for themselves, no introductions needed here. Xeimeria Narki, Riistetyt, Sotatila andSlavebreed. Altogether a thorough, ear-bleeding mix of dark hardcore/punk, dbeat and grind insanity. And let's not leave unnoticed the fact that Xeimeria Narki hold a somewhat legendary status in the worldwide punk scene, sometimes better known as Hibernation. They got the years behind them and they got the cult factor going on. So I'd dare to say that this will be an 'epic' show.

What better way to spend your Sunday than this! The show is out in the open, just perfect for these hot days, so take your beers or ice teas and see you up on the hill!